Motivating the Next Generation of Engineers and Manufacturers

- with Squirting Rockets and Flying Pumpkins  

Are we developing a new generation of engineering and manufacturing talent in the U.S.? What does our youth think about engineering and manufacturing? What are we doing about it?

Manufacturing still has a negative image

It is nice to see Engineering back on the list in the U.S. News and World Report’s “30 Best Careers for 2009”. Perhaps some of the initiatives I’ll talk about below are making a difference.

But I would like to see more manufacturing related careers on the list instead of careers like clergy, fundraiser, hair stylist and ghostwriter towards the top of the en-vogue list. Many companies are predicting a shortfall of technical skills required for manufacturing like engineering, 3D CAD/CAM, machining, NC programming, etc. Manufacturing needs a big public image campaign in this country. We need to overcome a lack of excitement about manufacturing among our youth. 

In an interview with McKinsey Quarterly, Bill Ford, executive chairman at the Ford Co., stated “We’ve lost an appreciation for manufacturing…It’s seen as dirty, smoke stack America, yesterday’s news and it doesn’t fit in the new information age. But in virtually every other country where Ford does business, there is an appreciation for the industrial base, and many countries will do almost anything they can to protect and enhance it. We have not, traditionally—certainly, over the last 10 years—shown that same willingness in the U.S.” However, it is impossible to find a strong global economic power that does not have a strong industrial base.

Yet manufacturing is needed for a strong economy

In addition to the smoke stack images, we also play up the “mad scientist” as a bad guy in many movies. Our youth probably doesn’t understand the difference between a scientist and an engineer, but we need them both. Perhaps even more engineers than scientists. Without early motivation, our youth might not embrace necessary early education in math and science. By the way, I am not the only one partial to Engineering... Henry Petroski in his book “The Essential Engineer” makes a case that without more investment in engineering we will not be able to tackle our global problems. Engineers have the techniques for improving processes, designs and building things. Engineers create a bridge between science and commercial applications to meet the needs of society and daily life - from the development of chemicals, computers and medical instruments, to alternative energy systems and power plants. 

The concern for future talent is compounded by the increasing exodus of experience out of the workforce as the baby-boomers start retiring. Today, nearly 30 percent of workers with science and engineering degrees are age 50 and older. The 70’s motivated baby-boomers with images from Apollo missions, Concorde jets, robots and Star Wars. But what images motivate the current generation? I believe we need more engineering super heroes like Iron Man! Perhaps not enough kids know that Iron Man is an engineer. That would be a good start  : ) but probably not enough.

Our future technical workforce is at risk and U.S. manufacturing as we know it is being lost to overseas markets in Japan, China and Korea. With too few students entering manufacturing, engineering, science and technology fields, it is critical that more motivation and support be given in these areas. Young people are generally uninformed of the career potential in these areas.

What are we doing about it? 

Besides the great Iron Man movies… what else are we doing right? 

Some of the things we are doing right include squirting rockets and flying pumpkins...

Every day, engineers around the country volunteer many hours giving back and reaching out to future engineers. As an example, I’ll relate some stories from our local Future Scientists and Engineers of America (FSEA) organization. The FSEA is promoting engineering careers among our youth through school programs and a couple of big events each year including a pumpkin launch and a rocket launch day. 

Squirting Rockets

 It was a beautiful day and Adam was building his first rocket at the Boeing facility in Huntington Beach. How exciting! His brother Alex was also working on his rocket next to us. 

 The rocket body: 2-liter plastic soda bottle. The rest: foam board, paper cone, plastic bag, string and tape. The goal is to keep the rocket in the air the longest time. Adam and I are brainstorming the parachute release mechanism and after a few tests, we think we have it. I was concerned that it would not stay in place so I encouraged him to add one more little piece of tape to hold it in place.

 Fill with water about half way; they supply the air pressure… 3, 2, 1… Adam squeezed the launch trigger and SWOOOCH!  It launched around 30-40 ft in the sky. The top opened and revealed the parachute, It looked like it was going to open but it didn’t  :(   Still a beautiful sight, but Adam turned to me, “Dad… it was your fault…Next time let me do it my way!”. I learned my lesson. But more importantly, Adam is looking forward to launching a better rocket next year. 

Flying Pumpkins

A few months before we were at another FSEA event, the Pumpkin Launch. Alex had built a catapult last year at an FSEA after school project, so as an “expert” he was carefully evaluating the designs from the different teams. His favorite was a big wooden catapult.

But the big surprise of the day was the Pumpkin Cannon. Long Beach College had a pumpkin cannon as opposed to the traditional catapult designs. During testing, a test ball got stuck in the cannon building up more pressure than expected and launching right through the football field score board… OOUCH! The crowd was in shock and the kids were of course… loving it! The kids yelled: “How can they disqualify them? Boooo! We want to see them do it again!”  

Alex enjoyed all his after school FSEA projects. It’s all about inspiring the next generations of engineers through hands on learning and experience. FSEA classes are led by volunteer engineers from manufacturing companies. These engineers are great raw models for our youth. 

Design Squad 

 I am also a big fan of the TV show Design Squad. I first heard about the show on an airplane flight when I was lucky enough to sit next to Deanne from the show. She had me sold on the idea for the show right away. She was so enthusiastic about the show and I later found out why when I saw it with my kids. Premiering on PBS in 2009, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series Design Squad is high-energy, high-drama reality TV that lets kids show off their smarts as they design and build working solutions for real-world clients—people who are hungry for clever ideas from a new generation of innovators. From creating remote-controlled flying football targets for Hasbro to dry land dog sleds for the Jamaica Dog Sled Team, the action culminates in the final episode when the top two scorers battle for the Grand Prize: a $10,000 college scholarship. 

Many manufacturing companies and associations are taking action…

Many manufacturing companies like Boeing are participating and contributing, especially at the high school and college levels. Associations like the National Science Foundation (NSF), The Society for Manufacturing Engineering (SME), and many others are also pushing for more STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education for all American students. The National Science Board (Board) wrote a letter to the President on this topic and the importance to ensure the long-term economic prosperity of the Nation. To see the full letter: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications/2009/01_10_stem_rec_obama.pdf

Get involved

If you love Engineering like me or Henry Petroski, get involved. If you are already participating in something, thanks and keep up the good work!

Who knows… it might be your kid designing that great next exoskeleton that will help disabled people get around town, or the new super efficient electric car we will use to commute to work.  

Maybe my kid will not end up an engineer; perhaps he’ll be a fundraiser extraordinaire   : )  

But if he is, I hope he will be raising funds for one of the organizations above working for the future of manufacturing in the U.S.  

References 

FSEA on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI4C1A4gwLA

http://www.discoverycube.org/fsea.aspx?q=68

TV Show Design Squad

http://pbskids.org/designsquad/

“Top 30 Careers for 2009”, US News

http://www.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2008/12/11/the-30-best-careers-for-2009.html

“Building A Sustainable Ford- Interview with Bill Ford”, McKinsey Quarterly

https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Building_a_sustainable_Ford_Motor_Company_An_interview_with_Bill_Ford_2496

“The Essential Engineer – Why Science Alone Will Not Solve our Global Problems”, Henry Petroski, 2010

http://www.rorotoko.com/index.php/article/henry_petroski_book_interview_essential_engineer_science_solve_global_probl/

Comments

[Conrad]

Check out some of the projects at Cal Poly... that is another way we are motivating the next generation...
http://robotics.ee.calpoly.edu/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=gallery:start

[Conrad]

Karin Lindner is working on an interesting topic for her next book: "How Can We Make Manufacturing Sexy?"
Sure we can! I am looking forward to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_opbsacGvjg